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Microsoft's AI cone recognizes faces and voices during meetings
Microsoft has a new tool for making meetings easier. It recognizes speech patterns, automatically transcribing them for remote participants (capable of "multiple" simultaneous translations) in addition to visually recognizing meeting participants as they walk into the room. And because the black, conical speaker is always listening, it means meeting notes are transcribed automatically.
Netatmo adds a connected smoke alarm to its smart home range
Netatmo is known for connected home products like the Presence AI-assisted security camera that can tell crooks from coyotes, but for CES, it's expanding into a new niche: built-in products. On top of a new smoke alarm and siren, the company has teamed up with French companies Velux and Legrand on AI-equipped in-wall smart switches, power outlets, skylights and blinds.
Toshiba prototype is a simpler, lighter Google Glass rival... with a catch
Nearly every tech company wants in on the wearables game, but they can't all be Google Glass or Apple Watches -- not that they have to be. But hey, here's Toshiba -- and it's got a Toshiba Glass prototype to show off. We'll say this right at the start: this remains a reference product that the company's showing off at CEATEC in Japan this week. And yes, technical specifics (let alone a price) aren't being discussed yet, but the vision for Toshiba's eye-based wearable prototype is a gentle, predictable one. The hardware is the combination of a tiny projector, attached to admittedly normal-looking frames. However, there's actually a special kind of one-sided reflective glass to catch the projection. The projection module itself is kind of bulky, but actually lightweight... which is great, until you realize that this prototype requires a constant wired connection to work.
Toshiba's shift away from consumer PCs means 900 lost jobs
Toshiba has been slinging Satellites and Qosmios and Kirabooks for basically ages now, but its days a purveyor of consumer computers may be winding down in a market near you. According to a statement the company issued last night, it's shifting its focus a bit -- the big priority is now crafting PCs to woo business customers, and Toshiba's going to cut about 900 jobs as part of the transition. Don't fret too much, though: Toshiba might be looking to streamline its consumer computer operations, but it's not going to give up entirely. To hear them tell it, the new Toshiba will "withdraw from unprofitable markets" and continue bringing those consumer-friendly PCs to developed countries, though we're still not sure how its mix of gadgets will wax and wane 'round those parts. The move will be a somber one in some places (especially for anyone who'll soon be out of a job) but there's not much else to be done -- the global PC market may not be shrinking as fast as some thought it would, but the seas are still rough for companies trying to plot a course to PC profitability.
Consumers are out, business is in: Looxcie to focus on Vidcie enterprise solutions
Parting is such sweet sorrow. Shed a tear for Looxcie's consumer aspirations, y'all, because the company has decided that the enterprise is now where it's at. After launching its Vidcie business-focused POV camera system at CES, it seems that Looxcie views the b2b brand as its ticket to profitability. Of course, the company will still sell its consumer products, and you folks who bought a Looxcie 3 or HD won't be left out in the cold, as Looxcie will still support those products and honor their warranties. The shift to focus on the enterprise isn't terribly surprising, given the ample and established competition in the wearable camera market. Still, we shall miss Looxcie's lipstick cams gracing our pages, won't you? (Probably not.)
Samsung enters advertising market with small-bezel and transparent displays
Mad Men marathons aside, it's rare that we dream of a career in advertising, but Samsung's latest pair of commercial displays have turned our head. The Korean giant has developed a 21.6-inch, 1:1 ratio ("square" to us normals) display with a 5.5mm bezel that can be used to develop video walls, installations or 3D sculptures. It's reportedly far more environmentally friendly than whacking a TV on your showroom wall, drawing 30 percent less power and auto-adjusting its own brightness depending on the ambient light. It's also unveiling the NL22B, a transparent LCD screen / case that builds on the see-through tech we saw at CES. The interactive display is designed to let you see facts and figures while keeping one eye on the merchandise at all times. It's imagined to be used in high-class jewelers, using interactivity to tease us toward buying that $4,000 watch. Both are being shown at IFA this week, but don't expect to see them available to buy -- so stash those dreams of covering every wall in house with these things, at least until you own your own advertising firm.
Apple launches B2B store for volume App Store purchases
Apple announced last week that it would begin offering volume purchasing for iOS apps, and a week later the program is open for enrollment (but still U.S.-only, unfortunately). Enrolling in the program requires that you be authorized to make purchases for your company, and you'll also need a valid D-U-N-S number. Volume purchasing allows businesses an alternative to the App Store for bulk purchases of iOS apps. All paid apps in the App Store are available through the program, at the same price as that listed in the App Store. Note that Apple's guide to the program doesn't mention anything about discounts for bulk app purchases, so purchasing Keynote for all 50 of your employees is going to run you close to US$500. Custom B2B apps are also offered, allowing a level of customization and privacy not offered through the traditional App Store purchasing route. The program also simplifies bulk distribution of iOS apps, allowing distribution of purchased apps' redemption codes via email, an internal website, or third-party Mobile Device Management. There doesn't appear to be any cost to enroll in the program, and it seems to be pretty close to addressing most of the features businesses interested in volume purchasing have been asking for since not long after the App Store's debut.
Apple to introduce volume app purchasing for businesses
In a move that's sure to make developers and IT heads happy, Apple will soon allow businesses to purchase apps in volume. Apple made the announcement tonight on its business page and through an email to registered developers. Not only will Apple allow business to buy ten or ten-thousand copies of a single app in one purchase, Apple will also allow a "way to purchase custom B2B (business-to-business) apps built by third-party developers to meet the unique needs of your business." Apple has released an App Store Volume Purchase Program for Business guide (PDF) for businesses and developers interested in the new program. Businesses wishing to buy apps in volume must create a volume purchasing account with Apple. Once enrolled, they can go to the program's website to purchase apps (in case you missed it, this means they aren't using the App Store in iTunes). Right now the volume purchase plan is only available in the US, and there's no limit to the number of apps nor the quantity of a particular app a business can buy. Businesses can complete purchases with a corporate credit card or procurement card. Free apps are excluded, which means employees will have to individually download those apps from their personal iTunes App Store accounts.
Pioneer's Discussion Table gets a thumping $37,000 price tag, taken for a spin (video)
We thought the latest version of Microsoft's Surface was pricey at $7,600, but it's cheapo IKEA compared to Pioneer's WWS-DT101 Discussion Table. We just reported that this beast is due to hit the Japanese market in July, but now we discover you might need as much as ¥3million (around $37,000) plus van hire before you can cart it away. Acknowledged, it has a bigger screen and better all-round specs than Microsoft's SUR40, and it looks pretty damn responsive judging from the video after the break. But it's still an unlikely amount to spend on a piece of furniture that can't even play Dungeons and Dragons.
Rogers turns on Wi-Fi Calling for Business, $10 and up to get started
Canada's Rogers has been offering UMA on a selection of BlackBerry models to end users for some time, but the technology never seems to have fully caught on anywhere in the world -- which is strange, considering how awesome the concept of seamless WiFi-to-cellular call transitions might sound. Both manufacturers (particularly outside RIM) and carriers have approached it very, very cautiously, but here's a positive sign that it'll be around for a while: Rogers has just launched Wi-Fi Calling for Business, essentially a B2B-flavored version of its existing service that lets suits tack on UMA to their business calling plans starting at CAD $10 (about $10) a month. Rogers claims that "a broad array of handsets from the major device manufacturers, including most current BlackBerry device models, are dual mode and support UMA," though we think that might be reaching a bit -- the carrier's official WiFi calling FAQs only list a selection of nine BlackBerry models on the compatibility list. Then again, this is a business-focused feature... so a bunch of BlackBerrys isn't the worst thing in the world, we suppose.
Enso shutting down retail sales, finally refunding zenPad orders
We didn't want to get sucked into this whole Enso debacle, but our first post on the company and its too good to be true zenPad resulted in a flurry of warnings about unsatisfied customers and never-appearing shipments. After numerous delays we finally got one to try out -- and a sad, sorry review unit it was. Now, nearly six months on from that original post, the company is finally, finally processing refunds for those who ordered their zenPads back in March but were left with nary a gadget in sight. With all that behind it, Enso is shifting its efforts exclusively to B2B sales, meaning that you can still buy any of its various and KIRFy wares but the minimum order is 25 units. C'mon now, who wants to be the proud owner of two-dozen zenDroids? [Thanks, @PitchingAFit]
Verizon lets businesses in on Friends & Family plans
You might think that in the process of adapting its recently-launched Friends & Family package to a business audience, Verizon would've changed the name to something more... you know, business-oriented, but nope -- Friends & Family for Business launches on March 15. On plans starting at $59.99 for a single line with 900 minutes, Big Red will be offering ten numbers employees call most -- which should significantly reduce the need for those minutes, we figure. Anything that eliminates a great excuse for calling the boss is a downgrade as far as we're concerned, but we're sure businesses on Verizon are going to be pretty stoked about this.[Via Phone Scoop]
iRex poised to take B2B orders for iLiad e-book reader
We've had our eye on Philips (that's Royal Philips Electronics to you) spinoff iRex Technologies ever since we heard that the company was developing a Sony Reader-like e-book device with some pretty compelling features, but there's been no word on the so-called iLiad since it failed to ship last month as we were expecting. Well now iRex has finally updated its website with some new information about the 400MHz, multi-format reader, and the news is not so good if you're hoping to get your hands on one of these any time soon -- consumers will have to wait until at least September to order a model with "extended functionality" being designed for the general public. Businesses, on the other hand, can start placing their orders for the regular, "less-functional" models within the next month, with Europeans getting a shot at the e-ink-based 'books a month ahead of the rest of the world. We're hoping that along with the new features promised in the consumer version, iRex also manages to shave a few bucks off of the cost, as that $800+ pricetag we previously reported is pretty steep no matter how much you like to read.[Thanks, Alex]
